The Basics of Greater Elgin Initiative Launches on Friday, April 11, 2025
ELGIN Launches “The Basics of Greater Elgin” Initiative
Dr. Ron Ferguson, faculty director of Harvard’s Achievement Gap Initiative, will headline the launch event on Friday, April 11, at the Centre of Elgin. The event introduces The Basics of Greater Elgin—a community-wide movement aimed at giving every child the strong start they deserve.
What Are The Basics?
This science-based approach equips families with five simple principles to boost early childhood development from birth to age 5:
- Maximize Love, Manage Stress: Nurturing, responsive parenting to foster healthy social and cognitive growth.
- Talk, Sing, and Point: Engaging with children to support language and early reading skills.
- Count, Group, and Compare: Everyday activities that introduce basic math concepts.
- Explore through Movement and Play: Encouraging active play for physical and imaginative development.
- Read and Discuss Stories: Interactive book reading to boost cognitive and language skills.
Event Highlights
In addition to Dr. Ferguson’s keynote, the event features speakers such as Elgin Mayor David Kaptain and School District U-46 Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Johnson. Attendees can expect engaging hands-on activities, panel discussions with local childcare, medical, and charity leaders, and a deep dive into early childhood data.
Empowering Families
Amber Peters, Executive Director of Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning, explains that The Basics empower families without needing expensive gadgets or extra time. The initiative includes The Basics Insights, a free texting program that sends weekly, science-backed tips and activities in multiple languages.
Community Collaboration
Supported by a diverse network of community partners—from local government and health departments to schools and foundations—The Basics of Greater Elgin is set to become a vital resource in promoting early learning and school readiness for every child in the Greater Elgin Area.
Join the movement on April 11 and help build a brighter future for our children!